Just received photos of my Heym PH on which Mike Merker converted the factory's semi-beavertail forearm to a splinter forearm. If one of you who were interested in seeing "before and after" photos of this project would e-mail me, I will forward the photos to you for posting here on AR.

Bill E.

Mike and Danny do great work.

I'll bet this job came out just RIGHT!

Perhaps for picture help RUSTY is your man.

if you don't mind me asking what was the cost? I have a couple of heym's I might like to do....

McKay,

As to cost: trimming down, shortening, and reprofiling to miniturize the forearm to the general splinter shape runs $600.00 to $650.00. This also includes some recheckering to pick up the original pattern.

I requested the smallest, most petite splinter forearm possible that would coordinate with the size of my rifle. This required stepwise trimming down, shortening, detailed reprofiling, and re-inletting the forearm release lever latch. In addition, I got the "best quality" (ie., as good or better than factory) checkering and refinish requiring layout and recutting to match the original butt stock pattern and restaining and refinishing to match the butt stock. In a phone conversation with Mike, he said he spent between 8 and 9 hours on this recheckering alone. This work usually runs between $850.00 and $1000.00. My total cost $900.00.

The work is excellent as Biebs stated. If you would like to see the "before and after" photos, I will be happy to e-mail them to you. If someone would like to post them here on AR, I will forward them to you for posting.

Bill E.

Bill,

If you email them to me, I will post them for you.

send them to pyodice@sbhcs.com

Paul

You won't find too many gunsmiths that do top quality work as Michael Merker does and his prices are reasonable. He's bending a stock for me at this time.

Got the photos, Bill.

Am trying to get out of hospital as i can't access photobucket to put photos there and from there here. (Hospital IT department hasnt realized this is a "forbidden" site yet while photo hosting sites are).

Thanks for your help, Paul. Enjoyed your 600 NE post.

Bill E.

Here you go Bill - BEAUTIFUL

BEFORE


AFTER

Outstanding!!!!!! There's something about a beavertail forend on a fine rifle or shotgun that is visually insulting. Well done!

Brett

In the last 6 months I have had the pleasure of working with three exceptional artisans who also happen to be exceptionally fine people:
Mike Merker
Wayne Jacobson at AHR
Joe Smithson

All three take a personal and sincere interest in their customers, do excellent work, and finish on schedule. Those are Joe's low profile QD scope mounts shown in the photos.

Thanks again, Paul, for your help.

Bill E.

I forgot one thing. I would now like to add the honorable "DRSS" designation to my signature line. I say "honorable" because of the quality, helpfulness, and welcoming nature of the members who post here.

Bill E.
DRSS

Awesome! That looks very good! And yes, Welcome to the DRSS!

My pleasure Bill E.

I like that so much I am considering it myself. How long did the process take to complete?

Thanks

yes like it alot......could see doing my 470 this way. Intersted in the wait time as well......Thanks

Mike received the rifle on the last day of March. I received the gun back at my home during the first week of July (July 4th delayed the delivery by a few days). He had estimated 3 to 4 months. So he had it in his possession for 3 months.

Bill E.

Forgot to mention something (again!). Mike told me in a phone conversation yesterday that he is now familiar enough with Heyms' forearm dimensions that he will be much more efficient in the future (ie., he will not have to reduce in such a stepwise fashion and will, therefore, save considerable time). Hope this info helps.

Bill E.
DRSS for sure!

very nicely done.

Regards

Looks Great!

So much nicer to my eye now that it's splinter style. A very good decision!

Thanks, BigFiveJack, and all the others who sent well wishes, welcomes, and "good judgment" accolades my way. Of course, Mike is the one we are all complimenting for his outstanding work.

Bill E.
DRSS

Looks great!!

Why is it that the DR makers put those beavertails on their rifles when they know fully well that most all folks like a splinter fore end on their rifles?? I am at a loss for this. Anybody know?

My Chapuis would look so much nicer with a fore-end makeover!!

I would love to see a chapuis 9,3 with this makeover!

Scottyboy and tendrams,

Contact Mike at 828-698-8804 for photos of his work on a Chapuis forearm. It came up in one of our conversations that he had "splinterized" (my term) Chapuis forearms. Hope this helps.

Bill E.
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Looks great!!

Why is it that the DR makers put those beavertails on their rifles when they know fully well that most all folks like a splinter fore end on their rifles?? I am at a loss for this. Anybody know?

Six years ago, I would have agreed with you, but actual sales don't play out the way you would think.

Although I personally prefer a splinter (and try to talk my customers into one)... I would say that 85% order the semi-beavertail.

I try to push the splinter, but - in the end - the customer gets what they want, and the majority order semi-beavertails.

It goes without saying that Merker did a great job on that one.

So this is an option that HEYM offer?

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
So this is an option that HEYM offer?

Yes. It's a $300 "extra" that's WELL worth the "extra" money.

Brett

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
Although I personally prefer a splinter (and try to talk my customers into one)... I would say that 85% order the semi-beavertail.

I try to push the splinter, but - in the end - the customer gets what they want, and the majority order semi-beavertails.

I call this the Winchester 21 phenominon. I never have been able to figure out the allure of the model 21. A local gun shop has one for 9-10k. I wouldn't want it if it was the last gun on earth! It's about as ugly and clunky as they come. Now my Francotte purchased for about half the money is twice the gun.

Brett

Okay, I just have to be the ignorant newby here. I'm still trying to get used to all the double gun terms, etc.

What is the difference between the semi-beavertail and splinter besides the obvious size?

They really don't look that different to me.

The beavertail is fatter right in front of the hinge and just seems fatter throughout. Is that the main difference?

Is it a functional or cosmetic difference?

Could somebody please explain in small easy to understand words for this ignoramus?

THanks

Bake

Yes a splinter forend is just smaller and does not wrap up around the sides of the barrels. Splinter to many traditionalists looks much better. Pretty much the idea is to stay minimal and just contain the forend iron. The only two pro's that I can think of to having a beavertail is if your barrels are hot you don't get burned on the barrels and when carrying "Africa Style" to me it feels a little more confortable with a little more wood contact on my shoulder.
Mac

Wpe2.....just noticed in one of your pics. Are those smithson mounts you have for your scope? How do you like them?

McKay,

Yes they are Joe Smithson's. I am very pleased with their low profile, solid anchor, and returnability to zero. Joe also made me a base for my Trijicon RMR to fit on the rear mount. So I have the option of the irons, RMR, or Leupold 1.5-5 illuminated. I can e-mail you some photos of the RMR setup (or get our friend, Paul CCMDOC to post them for me here on AR) if that would be helpful.

Bill E.
DRSS

bakerb, American shooters (shotgun as well as rifle) are used to a beavertail forend which the hand grips. The hand does NOT touch the barrels, only the wood of the forend. British shooters (shotgun as well as double rifle) have always favored the 'splinter" forend which is MUCH slimmer and in fact the hand touches the barrels, almost wrapping around them. Thus, for double rifles, traditionalists favor the splinter forend.
Peter.

Thanks for the responses. Didn't mean to hijack wpe2

Bake

Bake,

No apology necessary. I enjoyed Peter's post also.

Bill E.
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
So this is an option that HEYM offer?

Yes. It's a $300 "extra" that's WELL worth the "extra" money.

Brett

Agreed - one of the best decisions I made on mine.

Antlers,

It sure would be interesting to see a photo of your rifle taken in a pose similar to one of Mike's "after" photos (shown above in CCMDoc's 13 July 2010 post) for comparison of the factory splinter to Mike's splinter. Then it would be even more enlightening if Mike chimed in to explain why he could, or could not, do certain things. Of course, we all realize that it is more difficult and time consuming to "undo" something and then "redo" it into something different than it originally was.

Bill E.
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by bakerb:
Okay, I just have to be the ignorant newby here. I'm still trying to get used to all the double gun terms, etc.

What is the difference between the semi-beavertail and splinter besides the obvious size?

They really don't look that different to me.

The beavertail is fatter right in front of the hinge and just seems fatter throughout. Is that the main difference?

Is it a functional or cosmetic difference?

Could somebody please explain in small easy to understand words for this ignoramus?

THanks

Bake

Aside from the asthetics of a spinter forend being much slimmer, trimmer, and sexier in my oppinion it's more functional. A splinter forend is slimmer which allows the hands to be rapped around the front of the forend and up on top of the barrels. This allows you to better control the rifle during recoil by improving your grip on the rifle and decreasing muzzle flip. In a heavy recoiling rifle it is exceedingly important to have good control of the rifle. Wrapping your hands around the barrels allows you to control it to the max. Besides God help me the beavertail forend looks hiddious!

Brett

Forget the looks of a splinter forend which does have great aesthetic value to me. Just think of all of the walnut trees we could save if all DR's had splinter forends. Tree huggers and rock kissers might join forces with us promoting no more beavertail forends, save a tree and save the eyes.